Guyanese can breathe a sigh of relief after Guyana was confirmed as the seventh and final match venue for the HERO Caribbean Premier League 2018.
At a simple signing ceremony at the Main Street, Georgetown office of the Minister of Social Cohesion with Responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport Dr George Norton, the document was inked by the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ franchise team Operations Manager Omar Khan and the Permanent Secretary of the said ministry, Melissa Tucker which will see Guyana hosting seven matches, including two playoff matches.
Minister Norton announced that the Guyana National Stadium, Providence will host the matches scheduled to be played between August 9 and September 9, along with the two playoff matches billed for September 11 and 12.
The Guyana Amazon Warriors will have encampment from August 2-7.
Khan said the Warriors are very happy to get the support from the minister and the ministry to sign off on the agreement and it was an integral part of hosting the games in Guyana.
Last year Guyana played four matches at home, with one of their “home” games in Florida, but this year all five home matches will be played at the National Stadium Providence, with Florida being used as a home venue for the Jamaican Tallawahs.
Khan indicated that there has been tremendous support in Guyana over the years for the CPL, and it is hoped that every match will be sold out match was sold out last year.
Many followers of the ‘Biggest Party In Sports’ found it odd that Guyana had been omitted as a host venue when the initial fixtures were released by the CPL earlier this month, with Minister Norton indicating that no one had approached the Ministry with regards to the League.
When asked of the reason for such a delay, Khan explained, “As it relates to this, CPL will give an official statement on the issue very soon.”
As the tournament enters its sixth season, the Guyana Amazon Warriors has been one of the most consistent teams, making it to the finals on three occasions and finishing third in the other two years.
The tournament runs from August 8 to September 16 with the finals slated for Trinidad.
The fixtures for the Guyana leg of the tournament are as follows:
August 9 Guyana Amazon Warriors v St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots
August 11 Guyana Amazon Warriors v St. Lucia Stars
August 12 Guyana Amazon Warriors v Barbados Tridents
September 8 Guyana Amazon Warriors v Jamaica Tallawahs
September 9 Guyana Amazon Warriors v Trinbago Knight Riders
September 11 TBC v TBC (Playoff)
September 12 TBC v TBC (Playoff)